Steam-engine valve



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A A. H. FORD.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

No. 546,316. Patente@ Sept. 17, 1895.

(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2.

A. H. FRD.

. STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

No. 546,316. Patented Sept. 17, 1895.

I t; N E 1 u.

H yq H* Iorf the valve-casings.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

ANDREW H. FORD, OF ORANGE, TEXAS.

STEAM-EN GIN E VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters 'Patent No. 546,316, dated September 17, 1895.

Application tiled April 7, 1894. Serial No. 5061741. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ANDREW HrFoRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Orange and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Steam-Engine Valve, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steamengine valves, and it has for its object to effect certain improvements in valves oi' the rotary type, and to arrange the same in connection with an ordinary engine-cylinder whereby the engine is placed easily under control of the operator for such purposes, particularly as controlling the movements of the log-carriage of a sawing-machine.

To this end the main and primary object ofthe present invention is to construct an improved rotary valve capable of feeding and exhausting one end of a steam-cylinder, and easily controlled and operated.

With these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine-cylinder, showing my improved valve devices connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line a: a: of Fig. l above one Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view of one of the valves.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents an ordinary engine-cylinder, inside of which is arranged to travel the ordinary piston which may be used to communicate motion to any suitable machines; but in the present invention the valve devices connected with such cylinder are particularly useful in controlling feed-carriages for sawing and other mills.

The cylinder A is provided near its opposite ends with the steam-ports B, which receive the upper ends of the short cylinderpipes C, the lower ends of which are tted into the top of the valve-casings D. The valve-casings D are arranged near each end of the steam-cylinder so as to control the feed and exhaust of steam for each end of the cylinder, and said valve-casings D are provided with the opposite flanged side necks E, and a dangedtop neck F, to the latter of which is suitably secured the lower ends of the short cylinder-pipes O, while to the side necks E, arranged in a line opposite to each other, are coupled the ends of the common livesteam pipe G, arranged intermediate of and connecting the opposite valve-casings and receiving a supply of live steam from the boiler-pipe g, connected centrally thereto. The outer side necks E, of the valve-casings receive one end of the exhaust-pipes I-l, which provide means for carrying off the steam which may be exhausted through the valves in said valve-casings. l

Each valve-casing D is provided with a circular slightly-tapered valve-bearing I, which is pierced at the opposite sides and top by the steam-ports J, communicating with the pipes connected to the several necks of the casing, as is clearly-shown in the drawings, and the circular-tapered valve-bearing I of each valvecasingis adapted to accommodate therein a cylindrical slightly-tapered rotary valve-plug K. The cylindrical rotary valve-plugs K are provided with the separate oppositely-curved steam-passages L, located at one side of the centers thereof and adapted to either connect the live steam-ports of the valve-casing with the port leading into the cylinder-pipe cr the latter port-with the exhaust-port of the casing in order to provide for the feeding and exhausting of each end of the cylinder A.

Each of the valve plugs K, which are mounted in their respective casings, as described, are mounted xedly on the transverse valve-stems M, the extremities of which turn in the opposite sides of the valve-casings and project beyond the stuffing-boxes N, located at such opposite sides of said casings, and said valve-plugs are somewhat shorter than the bearings in which they turn in order to be properly adjusted to take up wear, by means of the longitudinally-adjustable takeup-collars N', arranged for adjustment on opposite portions of the valve-stems inside of the opposite heads or sides of the valve-casinffs.

Plo one extremity of each of the valve-stems IOO e 54eme M, projecting beyond the valve-casings D, is attached the upper end of a depending valvearm O, provided in its lower end with a series of perforations o, adapted to adjustably receive the bolt P, connecting the single operatin g-rod Q thereto. The operating-rod Q leads to any suitable lever under the control of the engineer or operator, and forms asingle connection between the valve-arms for the oppositely-arranged valves, thereby insuring the simultaneous movement thereof. the operating-rod Q in one direction one of the rotary valves is turned to a position so as to exhaust the steam from one end of the cylinder, while the opposite valve is turned so as to admit live steam into the other end of the cylinder, and by having the operating# rod Q connected with the ordinary 'eccentric or other valve-operating devices vthe herein described rotary valves can be operated automatically in the ordinary manner.

To the lower extremities of the valve-arms O are loosely connected the upper ends of the weight-ropes It, which carry at their lower extremities the valve-adjusting weights S, and are arranged between the retaining-pulleys T, mounted side by side on a suitablyarranged bracket U. By reason of the weighted ropes R it willbe apparent that in the event of the operator or engineer releasing his control of the operating-rod Q, or the other operating connections therewith becoming displaced, the weight at the lower end of the weighted rope will cause the valve# arms VO to assume a vertical position in alignment with such weighted ropes, and thereby cause the rotary valves to assume a position with their steam-passages out of alignmentA with any ports in the casings, thus causing the engine to stop at once. By reason of connecting a weighted rope with'each of the valvearms O, it will be obvious that the combined weight of both weighted connectionsis eX# erted upon both valve-arms O, on account 'of the connection Q between said valve-arms, thereby positively insuring the automatic closing of both valves simultaneously. The arrangement of the weighted connections directly below each valve is therefore important, inasmuch as the weight of said connections can be combined to insure the result referred to, whereas a single-weighted connection of the character described would ordinarily be insufficient to insure the quick By moving'v and positive closing of two valves simultaneously.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages ot this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed,'and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with an engine cylinder havingA end steam ports; of oppositely arranged valve casings connected with said cylinder ports and provided with circular tapered bearings and side and top ports pierc ing the bearings, tapered rotary vvalve plugs mountedv in said bearings and shorter in length thanv the length ofthe bearings, said plugsV having separate steampassages to counect'the side and top` ports, the valve stems, and take-up collars mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the valve vstems inside of the opposite heads of the casing at' both ends of the plugs to provide for' adjusting the latter within their bearings, substantially as set forth.` p

2. The combination with a steam engine cylinder having opposite end ports; of opposite connected 'valve casings connected withl the end ports of the cylinder, rotary valves mounted in said valve casings and having projected valve stems, swinging depending valve arms connected at theirupper ends to said projected valve stems, a single operating rod arranged intermediate of and pivotally connecting the opposite valve stems to insure a simultaneous turning ot' the valves, stationary pairs of pulleys arranged below each valve casing, and weighted ropes guided between said pulleys and connected at their upper'ends respectively to the lower end of each swinging valve arm, the combined weight of both weight-ed ropes providing means for normally holding the valve arms vertical and for automatically vreturning the same to such position, substantially as set forth.

In 'testimony that I claim 'the foregoing as my own I have 4hereto 'aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW Il. FORD. Witnesses:

W. J. KOLTER, G. M. SELLS.

IOO 

